Play! By Sephora October 2016

Play! By Sephora is a monthly subscription box by Sephora. It costs $10 a month and you received 5 beauty and skincare samples plus a perfume sample each month. Previously, you needed to put yourself onto a wait-list and wait to receive an email before you could subscribe, as they were rolling it out to limited quantities.

In addition to the products, Sephora includes a booklet that includes information about the product, the brand, and then tips of how to use the products. Also at the back of the book is a Play! PASS. This Pass gives you a complimentary one-on-one session with a Sephora artist as well as an extra 50 Beauty Insider points when you scan the pass at the register with any purchase. If you have the Sephora app, you can also scan the images of the products to learn more about them.

Previously, everyone received the same exact box. They had a few months where they had two different boxes that went out, and this month it seems like they have a variety of different boxes that went out following their theme of The Cool Cut.

As a heads up, the boxes are a little bit larger and will not fit into a small apartment sized mailbox. For reference, a Birchbox box is able to fit almost perfectly into my mailbox, but this one has no chance. Therefore, I’ve had to go to the post office both months to pick up my box.

This month the products I received were as follows:

Smashbox Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver’s Seat (Full-size $24)

The first lip product in this box is a matte liquid lipstick by Smashbox. Smashbox is one of my favoties brands so I was really excited about this product. I was a bit nervous that since it was a matte liquid lipstick that it would be drying as a lot of them are. When I first applied it, it took a minute or two to get used to and I was worried that it was drying, but after having it on for a few minutes I completely forgot about it. I also like that the applicator is meant to be used as both a liner and an applicator. They state that you should use the pointy part to line your lips and then the larger part to fill in. I did as they stated and I worked really nicely. I also love this color! It’s perfect for fall and not at all one that I would have picked for myself.

The Estee Edit Flash Photo Gloss (Full-size $20)

The second gloss is from the nest Estee Edit line by Estee Lauder. Estee Lauder is my favorite skin care line but I’m not typically crazy about their makeup. This gloss is an iridescent blue that is meant to highlight the blue tones in your teeth to make them appear brighter in photos. I tried it on over the Smashbox product and it didn’t seem to do anything. I don’t mind the smell which is usually something I can’t stand from Estee Lauder lip products, but I think this might be a gimmick product that doesn’t really live up to what it promises.

Derek Lam 10 Crosby Silent St (Full-size $95)

Each box contains a perfume and this month’s is by Derek Lam. The notes are just stated as white musks. It’s an interesting scent but it reminds me more of something that my mother would choose than I would. I will probably pass this to her and see if she likes it.

Farmacy Skin Dew Hydrating Essence Mist (Full-size$44)

This hydrating mist is meant to tone skin and restore radiance while also hydrating the skin. The scent is spa-like and includes Echinacea, which is known to promote healthy looking skin. I’ve always wanted to have a refreshing mist similar to this in the summer or when I travel, so I will probably hold on tothis. It might come in handy in the winter with our dry weather, so we’ll see! I will warn you tha the sprayer is not great as it gives a bit of an intense burst as opposed to a light, even, mist.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Night Serum (Full-size $90)

I love serums! I didn’t use them for a very long time, but when I discovered them and started to use them I was amazed by everything they did for my skin. This particular serum is a glycolic serum that is meant to refine and resurface the skin. Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that is known to brighten skin and get rid of dark spots. Apparently, Drunk Elephant is cruelty-free, vegan, gluten-free, and noncomedogenic as well as a supporter of the International Elephant Foundation. It’s always fun to find products that work well and are ethical. I’ve been using the Sundae Riley Good Genes serum at night and love it, but it’s a bit expensive. I’m hoping this one might be jus as good because its slightly less expensive.

Madam C.J. Walker Scent & Shine Coconut Oil (Full-size $26)

Coconut oil has been a holy grail product in the beauty world for a while now. I haven’t ever used it, but I’ve been hearing about how well it works on both hair and skin for a while now. This specific product claims to help to decrease frizz, define curls, and enhance shine. The scent isn’t just coconut, but has a floral aspect to it as well. It’s a bit interesting, but it’s not strong which is nice.  I’ve found in the past that a lot of oils make my hair shiny without controlling anything else. As a result, it just makes my hair look greasy.